The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-04-26
WHERE TWEED WAS HAPPY.
His Country Place in Greenwich and
How He Lived There.
From The Neio York Euening sun.

by the people OF 6feSnWICn- II there were
two sides to his character, it was the kindly,
sympathetic and gentle one which was seen
here and never any other. There will be
completed this week beautiful structure of
freestone and granite, exquisite in its pro-
portions and most pleasing III its arrange
ment of colors. 1t is built on the site OF
Tweed's old home here, and
for the residence of a New York family OF
great wealth and vet in certain sense it
will always suggest the memory of Tweed.
For it is 50 striking building, and is 50
charmingly situated on the bun facing the
sound. where Tweed was so fond Of spend
ing summer afternoons, that strangers, ask
ing what place it Is, will be told: oh, that
is the new million dollar house built on the
spot that Tweed passed his happiest hours
in"
That is the way it is already spoken of.
and the townspeople passing by, reminded
of the man, say to one another now ''Ah.
but they may say what they like Of Mr..
Tweed, but we have never seen one like him
here"
This tender and grateful recollection of
one who was known in the whirl Of New
York activities as the Boss is due wholly TO
his hearty sympathy with the poorer people.
his charity, which was as transformations as
it was great, the simplicity of his personal
life here, and his willingness to listen to any
appeal for aid
It was by accident that Tweed found his
summer home in Greenwich, and arose out
of the selection of grove on Greenwich
harbor for the Americas Club House. Those
who knew Mr.. Tweed best were aware that
he was most keenly impressed with quaint
or striking bits of LANDSCAPE and it was lust
such bit that struck his fancy as he was
riding through the then little village of
Greenwich. Ii was the farm Of Alyar Mead,
that was bounded on one side by the old
Boston and New York turnpike, sloped away
20 the southeast, and terminated in the
bluff known as Puts Hill, and hardly a
stones throw distant from the alleged spot
where bluff old Putnam dashed down the
pTecipice with British bullets grazing his
coat and cutting through his hat From
the bluff fine view of the sound and Of the
white sands and green hills of Long Island
was presented, and at the foot of the bank
curled little inlet from the sound back
from the old tide mill pond This quaint
old shingled mill, where the tide furnished
the power to grind grain for Washingtons
army, stood in the vista, and the whirr of
its wheel could be heard.
Tweed was charmed with the spot at the
first glance he had of it, and decided To
possess it that he might make it the place
for peaceful retreat for himself and family
But he found it not so easy to possess it.
The farmer who owned il knew the value of
money but land was even more than money
10 him, and he refused to sell. Tweed per
sisted and asked Farmer Mead to name
ufice without avail One morning be met
the Farmer in the depot, and in bantering
manner said: Nov, | don't believe YOU
kn1w the value of that piece of land What
would be figure that would make you part
with it,"
The farmer, with a whimsical look. and
IS though he meant to stagger Tweed, said:
well, Mr.. Tweed, | guess | would sell for
<600O0."
You guess VIII your
Yes, because nobody would pay that"
But Mr.. Tweed had stepped to the ticket
window and had called for pen, and in a
8tond had scratched off a check for $50 COO
~ handed it quickly to Farmer Mead, who,
8Umfounded, took it, and Mr.. Tweed laugh
smgIy said that they would make arrange
1neuts later for the formal transfer
z The price was enormous, as land values
Them We're in Greenwich. The whole prop
nv was assessed for less than one thousand
d0i1ars Sixty thousand dollars for a
bit of farm land of fifty-odd acres away out
IN the country! The people thought this
WIS a case of Tweed's extravaganza and
recklessness with money; and yet he never
ciosed a shrewder bargain, as he must have
known. For Tweed saw seventeen years
are with keen business eye what land val
mss were bound to be in place naturally so
sbeautiful and less than an hour from New
York.
He began at once the work of making the
place an ideal country home, and he found
his greatest relaxation from the worry and
Wllirl of the city life he was leading in
notwithstanding this work. The long sloping
feld that bordered the highway was graded
down to a gently undulating lawn, and the
rough farm lot where corn and potatoes
had fourished for hundred years became
"a thing OF beauty At the easterly end,
next adjoining the present residence of A.
Foster Higgins, long lane, shaded by elm
trees, led to the farm house. Tweed set
competent professional arboriculturists to
work upon this lane, and they converted
it into what many now regard as the
most perfect approach To residence in this
country Thete is only one public street
that can compare with it, and that is Temple
street in New Haven. The elms are set near
together the branches were carefully
trimmed, and no church nave is more regu-
larly and perfectly arched. OF course, in
Tweed's day it had not reached the beauty
Of to-day, as the elms were not so well
grown; but he saw what could be made of
the lane, and what it is to-day is due to
Tweed's thoughtfulness. Whether he can
have more enduring monument than that
or not. in this community he can have none
more beautiful.
There stood and still stands very large
elm tree on the ground near the house
which, by the way, stood some 800 feet back
from the highway-and when Tweed saw it
L.
contour OF the lower branches was such
that a large platform could be easily built
TO rest upon them, and the carpenters were
instructed to put one there. Thus Tweed
had in this big elm charming little chalet.
approached by a winding staircase around
the trunk of the elm, and here it was his
great delight to take his guests on
hot summer afternoons, where the
GOODNESS was most grateful. Many time
strangers seeking Tweed have found him
there leaning back in his easy chair, his hat
of, his feet slppered and on foot rest, and
here he found the utmost comfort of his
later days before his great troubles came.
Many distinguished men in political or bust
ness life have been entertained by Mr. Tweed
in the big elm tree, but while there lac would
permit no serious business or political CON
versation, but would only chat on subjects
that relax the mind
The old farmhouse was low, two-stoiy
structure, painted brown, very comfortable,
but wholly inadequate TO Mr. Tweed needs
He made temporary additions and repairs 10
it, but intended To build a new residence.
In this lie WAS making haste slowly, because
he wished to put up perfect house, and
knew that could not be done III a hurry.
te built. ho"ever, n handsome structure
S)r barn, bowling alley, billiard room and
temporary picture gallery. Some of TIE (
.f..tt fhot L..I